ATLANTA -- In 19 games under previous offensive coordinator Jimmy Raye, the 49ers never scored a touchdown on their first possession.

Mike Johnson did it on his first crack.

Johnson's debut as the 49ers' play caller resulted in a 10-play, 88-yard drive capped by a 12-yard touchdown pass to Vernon Davis.

Just like that. It was the 49ers' first opening drive touchdown since the 2008 season finale against Washington.

"(Johnson) tried to change the tendencies," Davis said. "He tried his best to get his playmakers the ball."

"I thought we did some pretty good things and we mixed it up," quarterback Alex Smith said. "We came out of the gates fast."

For the game, 49ers converted 6 of 12 third down chances and also eked out a fourth-and-1 on a quarterback sneak.

But in the end, they were derailed by the same problems that plagued Raye and other predecessors. The 49ers offense never reached the end zone after that promising opening drive, as Smith threw two interceptions.

The 49ers managed 262 yards of total offense (they came in averaging 310). And Smith had a quarterback rating of 65.6 (compared to 66.2).

Under Johnson, the 49ers rarely tried anything deep. Their longest play of the day was a 19-yard catch by running back Frank Gore. The biggest gainer came when tight end Delanie Walker helped draw a 34-yard pass interference call against the Falcons.

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Overall, coach Mike Singletary gave his new coordinator a thumbs up.

"Mike and his entire coaching staff did a great job," he said. "We put a plan together that could attack them effectively and forced them to protect the whole field. Whether there were screens or inside runs, we kept them off-balance for the most part."

Rookie strong safety Taylor Mays earned the starting assignment in place of veteran Michael Lewis, who left the team last week in an apparent protest over playing time.

Mays led the team with 11 combined tackles, in part because the Falcons threw a lot of passes in his area.

Mays' most memorable contribution came on special teams. With Falcons punter Michael Koenen lined up in the end zone, Dominique Zeigler came untouched through the line for a block.

In a stunningly athletic play, Mays jumped up to make an over-the-shoulder catch and landed with both feet barely in bounds.

As he danced in the end zone, a Falcons fan threw something at him.

"It was a trip," Mays said of his day. "It was a fun game. But I'd give all that up for a win."

A team spokesman said a day earlier that Singletary would address Lewis' contract situation for the first time after the game. But the coach cut off any such questioning. Singletary was also in no mood to explain why he selected Mays to replace Lewis in the lineup over Reggie Smith, the third-year man who had been listed as the second-string strong safety.

"We felt Taylor Mays gave us the best chance to win," Singletary said, and left it at that.

Lewis's agent, Rodney Williams, was quoted in reports Friday saying the 49ers gave Lewis mixed messages about playing time. Lewis was assured of his starting spot Monday but on Friday was informed that after the Atlanta game he would be asked to serve as a mentor to Mays.

Lewis did not travel to Atlanta and was on the game-day inactive list.

Adam Snyder replaced right guard Chilo Rachal late in the third quarter. Singletary said the decision was injury-related. But Rachal did not show up on the initial postgame injury report.

Delanie Walker hobbled out of the locker room with a sprained left ankle. A team spokesman said X-rays were negative. Linebacker Manny Lawson (knee) and Reggie Smith (hamstring) suffered injuries during the game but were able to return.

As part of "Throwback Weekend," the Falcons wore uniforms designed like their original 1966 versions. The Falcons are 3-0 when wearing their throwback jerseys.

In honor of "Breast Cancer Awareness Month," players and coaches from both teams wore pink cleats, gloves, caps and wristbands.

Singletary broke his headset when he slammed it to the ground in frustration with 41 seconds to go in the first half.

Gore has at least six catches in a career-high four consecutive games.